Mary Epworth

Mary Epworth with autoharp

According to her twitter account, Mary Epworth belongs to the ‘Worshipful Order of Glow Worms’ and therefore, as a nature lover, is obviously a kindred spirit. I first came across Mary through Alan Tyler and was immediately taken by both her voice and her songs. Traditional folk music, psychedelia and Greek progressive rock (have you not really heard Aphrodite’s Child) have all helped shape her music. A devotee of good old fashioned records, her first recordings were issued as beautiful 7” 45s with lovingly printed covers. Saddle Song, a sort of shanty, is my own personal favourite and was the spur for me to offer her a gig.

The night she played the Wild Hare Club, Mary was accompanied by the Jubilee Band and was on a double-bill together with WHC favourites, Morning Bride. Despite the fact that both groups hailed from more populated parts of the country, both have an approach and sound not so different from our home-grown crop of Weirdshire artists.

Since playing the WHC, Mary has continued cultivating her art and has garnered a huge number of good reviews along the way. Enormous kudos came in 2008 when Mary was asked to sing in ‘The Lady: A Tribute to Sandy Denny’ at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. She was backed by members of Bellowhead (possibly Mrs Hares favourite band ever) and performed alongside more famous names such as Marc Almond, Dave Swarbrick, and PP Arnold. In 2012 she released her first album Dream Life on her own Hand of Glory records and we are eagerly awaiting another offering. Mary E, is a special artist and one I hope I can entice back some time in the not-too-distant future.